It’s a new season and a new chapter for the Vancouver Canucks.
Players are ready to compete, and coaching staff are set to put their offseason work together for Training Camp in Victoria.
Head Coach Rick Tocchet talked about physical testing at camp, but also said there’s a lot of systems learning that’s going to be involved. He’s expecting to start special teams work on Day 3 of camp, getting everyone acquainted with what his team has been working on in the offseason. The work in camp and practice lays the foundation for tough games they’ll face throughout the season.
Tocchet believes it’s his job to help the players stay present and focus on the details one day at a time. He says backchecking and changing with purpose need to be second nature and raising the level of compete to help with success. Director of Sport Performance, Alex Trinca’s rest and recovery program is also a big part of the overall preparation.
“That’s how you deal with pressure, you have to do the little things. We’ve had numerous talks with players about that, if you’re not prepared pressure hits you.”
Tocchet preached the importance of summer training, and the players took it to heart, many of them voluntarily arriving three weeks early to get some ice time together. Building team chemistry early is important and he was impressed with his team’s motivation to do what they can to have a strong start to the season.
“The leadership group has really bonded even more and taken a lot of steps. I have to give them credit, it has nothing to do with me, they’re the ones that orchestrated this. But I’m a big camaraderie guy and I think that’s a big step to getting where we want to go,” he said.
General Manager Patrik Allvin said there will be a lot of talent vying for roster spots, including some of the talent that played in the 2023 Young Stars Classic in Penticton, but he says this season is different for more than just added talent.
“We’re aligned as an organization from the top to the bottom. Speaking the same language, the coaching staff in Vancouver and Abbotsford have the same message, the same system, the same practice habits, we’re more in line.” Allvin said, adding he noticed a buy-in from the players when Tocchet took over.
View the full training camp roster:
